E 

182 




PRESENTED BY 



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Consiiiution 

of m 



(Jtmf OtUv of i^i (y,ntfe5 ^icike 




(Benemf Commanier^ 



CONSTITUTION 



OF THE 



(Uai?af (Drber of t^t (Uni^eb ^(akB 



f( 




GENERAL COMMANDERY. 






Gift 

14r8. Juliftii James 

1912 



Press of 

LORING & AXTELL 

Sprinc;field, Mass. 



<0fficcr^ of tl)c oBencral €ommanDcrp. 



General Co7nmander. 
JOHN COD MAN SOLEY, U. S, N., Boston, Massachusetts. 

Vice- General Commanders. 

JOHN LORIMER WORDEN, U. S. N., Washington, District of Columbia. 

FRANCIS ASBURY ROE, U. S. N., Washington, District of Columbia. 

HENRY CLAY TAYLOR, U. S. N., Washington, District of Columbia. 

General Recorder. 
FRANK WILLIAM NICHOLS, U. S. N., Boston, Massachusetts. 

General Treasnrer. 
THOMAS AMORY DeBLOIS, M. D., Late U. S. N., Boston, Massachusetts. 

General Registrar. 
CHARLES CALHOUN PHILBROOK, Late U. S. M. C, Boston, Massachusetts. 

General Historian. 
THEODORUS BAILEY MYERS M.\SON, U. S. N., Washington, District of Columbia. 

Assistant General Recorder. 
CHARLES FREDERICK BACON PHILBROOK, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Assistant General Treasurer. 
WILLIAM LITHGOW WILLEY, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Assistant General Registrar. 
FRANKLIN THOMASON BEATTY, M. D., Boston, Massachusetts. 

Assistant General Historian. 
ARTHUR WELLINGTON CLARK, M. D., Boston, Massachusetts 

General Chaplain. 
Reverend MINOT JUDSON SAVAGE, lioston, Massachusetts. 



oBcncral Council. 



HORATIO BARNARD LOWRY, U. S. M. C, Washington, District of Columbia. 

WILLIAM HKNRY HARRIS, U. S. N, Boston, Massachusetts. 

JOHN FAIRFIELD MERRY, U. S. N., Boston, Massachusetts. 

JACOB WILLIAM MILLER, Late U. S. N., New York, New Yorlc. 

THEODORE STRONG THOMPSON, U. S. N., Boston, Massachusetts. 

FRANCIS HENRY HARRINGTON, U. S M. C, Boston, Massachusetts. 

WILLIAM MELVILLE PAUL, Late U. S. N., Boston, Massachusetts. 

THOMAS LORING OHURCHII L, Late U. S. N., Boston, Massachusetts. 

RICHARD KENT GA TLEY, Late U. S. N., Portland, Maine. 



3iiDDrc^^c^ of tl)t oBcncral Ol^fficcrief. 



JOHN C. SOLEY, General Commander, 

178 Devonshire Street, Boston, Mass. 

C. F. BACON PHILBROOK, Assistant General Recorder, 

P. O. Box 36, Station A, Boston, Mass. 

THOMAS A. DeBLOIS, M. D., General Treasurer, 

372 Marllioro Street, Boston, Mass. 



^rcambic. 



Whereas, Many of the principal battles and famous victories of the several wars 
in which the United States has participated were fought and achieved by the 
Naval forces, 

Whereas, It is well and iitting that the illustrious deeds of the great Naval com- 
manders, their companion officers in arms, and their subordinates in the wars of the 
United States should be forever honored and respected ; — 

Therefore, Entertaining the most exalted admiration for the undying achievements 
of the Navy, we, the survivors and descendants of participants of those memorable 
conflicts, have joined ourselves together and have instituted the " Naval Order vi the 
United States," that we may transmit to our latest posterity their glorious names and 
memories; and to encourage research and publication of data pertaining to Naval art 
and science, and to establish libraries in which to preserve all documents, rolls, books, 
portraits and relics relating to the Navy and its heroes at all limes. 



Coustitiitinii. 



ARTICLE I. 



TITLE. 



This institution shall be known by tlie name, style and title of the " Naval Order 
of the United Slates." 



ARTICLE 11. 

ORCxANIZATION. 

The constituted bodies of this Order shall be designated as Coninianderies, and 
shall consist of — 

A General Commandery, to be known as the "General Commandery of the Naval 
Order of the United States." 

State Coninianderies, to be known as the "' Coninianderv uf the Naval 

Order of the United States." 



ARTICLE III. 

MEMRERSIIIP. 

The Companions of the Order shall be of two classes. 

First Class. Officers, sailors or marines in actual service in the United States 
Navy, Marine Corps, Revenue or Privateer services, during the wars, or in face of the 
enemy in any engagement in which the Navy of the United States has participated, 
and who resigned or were discharged with honor, or who are still in the service. 

Second Class. Male lineal descendants of officers, sailors or marines in actual 
service in the Navy, Marine Corps, Revenue or Privateer services under the authorit}- 



of any of the thirteen original Colonies or States, or of the Continental Congress 
during the war of the Revolution, or of the United States during the war with France, 
the war with Tripoli, the war of 1812, the war with Mexico, the Civil war, or in face of 
the enemy in any engagement in which the Navy of the United States has partici- 
pated, and who resigned or were discharged with honor, or who are still in the service. 



ARTICLE IV. 



OFFICERS. 



The officers of the General Commandery shall be a General Commander, three 
Vice-General Commanders, a General Recorder, a General Treasurer, a General 
Registrar, a General Historian, an Assistant General Recorder, an Assistant General 
Treasurer, an Assistant General Registrar, an Assistant General Historian, a Gen- 
eral Chaplain, and a General Council consisting of nine Companions, of which 
General Council the other officers shall be members <?.v-^^rtV;^ They shall be elected 
triennially. 

The officers of the State Commanderies shall be a Commander, a Vice-Com- 
mander, a Recorder, a Treasurer, a Registrar, a Historian, a Chaplain, and a Council 
consisting of nine Companions, of which Council the other officers shall be members 
ex-officio. They shall be elected annually, as hereinafter provided. 



ARTICLE V. 



DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 



COMMANDER. 

The Commander, or in his absence the Vice-Commander, or a chairman /r<7 /"^w- 
/t'/r shall preside at all meetings of the Commandery ; shall exercise the duties of a 
presiding officer under parliamentary rules, subject to an appeal to the Commandery. 

He shall have the power to convene special meetings of the Commandery or of 
the Council at his discretion, and shall convene the Commandery upon written request 
of ten Companions, and the Council upon written request of three of its members. 



9 



RECORDER. 

The Recorder shall, keep a record of the proceedings of the Commandery and of 
the Council. 

He shall conduct the general correspondence of the Commandery, and shall keep 
a record thereof. 

He shall notify all applicants of their election or rejection. 

He shall give due notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Commandery 
and of the Council. 

He shall keep all accounts between the Commandery and the Companions, 
receive all moneys and pay them at least monthly to the Treasurer, taking his receipt 
therefor. 

He shall transmit to the Registrar all applications and proofs of eligibility of all 
persons admitted. 

He, together with the Registrar and Historian, shall have charge of all printing 
and publications directed by the Commandery or Council. 

He shall have charge of the seal, certificate of incorporation, records, by-laws and 
all other documents other than those required to be deposited with the Registrar or 
Historian. 

He, together with the presiding officer, shall certify all acts of the Commandery 
and of the Council, and when required, authenticate them under seal. 

He shall transmit to his successor in office within two weeks after the expiration 
of his term all books, papers and other property in his possession belonging to the 
Commandery. 



TREASURER. 

The Treasurer shall receive from the Recorder all moneys belonging to the Com- 
minderv, giving his receipt for the same, and shall pay out such sums only as shall be 
ordered by the Commandery or the Council. 

He shall keep a regular account of all receipts and expenditures. 

For the faithful performance of his duty he shall give such security as the Coun- 
cil may direct. 

He shall transmit to his successor in office within two weeks after the expiration 
of his term all books, papers and other property in his possession belonging to the 
Commandery. 



10 



REGISTRAR. 



The Registrar shall receive from the Recorder, file, and keep on record all the 
proofs upon which membership has been granted. 

He shall keep a register of the Companions of the Commandery in which shall be 
recorded every material fact relating to their membership. 

He shall aid and co-operate with the Recorder and Historian in all printing and 
publications directed by the Commandery or Council. 

In the absence of the Recorder he shall officiate in his stead. 

He shall transmit to his successor in office within two weeks after the expiration 
of his term all records, books, papers and other property in his possession belonging 
to the Commandery. 



HISTORIAN. 

The Historian shall keep a complete record of all historical and commemorative 
events of the Commandery. 

He shall, with the aid of the Recorder and Registrar, prepare for publication all 
such documents as the Commandery or Council may direct. 

He shall receive donations of documents, rolls, books, portraits and relics relat- 
ing to the Navy, and shall make copies of such papers as the owners may not be will- 
ing to part with. 

He shall, at the annual meeting of the Commandery, submit carefully prepared 
obituaries of the deceased Companions, and shall keep a record describing as fully as 
possible their places of burial. 

He shall transmit to his successor in office within two weeks after the expiration 
of his term, all records, books, papers and other property in his possession belonging 
to the Commandery. 

CHAPLAIN. 

The Chaplain shall be an ordained clergyman of a Christian church, and shall 
perform such duties as generally appertain to his office. 

COUNCIL. 

The Council shall have control of the affairs and funds of the Commandery, and 
the power to call special meetings. 

They shall have the power to elect applicants to membership upon a favorable 
report of the Committee on Membership, and to accept the resignation of any 



11 

enrolled Companion, and may also issue to any Companion in good standing upon his 
removal to another State, a letter recommending his acceptance to membership in the 
Commandery of that State ; and, on receipt of official notice of his election, he shall 
. be recorded as having been transferred. Such letter must be presented within one 
year from date. 

They may suspend any Companion for just cause, and may recommend to the 
Commandery the expulsion of any Companion, after due investigation of the charges 
preferred against him. 

They may direct the Recorder to drop from the roll the name of any Companion 
who shall be at least two years in arrears in the payment of his dues and who shall fail 
on proper notice to pay the same within sixty d^ys, provided, however, that a Companion 
in the Navy on foreign service shall not be so dropped until the expiration of three 
years. But such Companion may be restored to membership at any time by the 
Council upon an application signed by him and the payment of arrears up to the date 
of his restoration. 

They may suspend any officer from office for cause, which suspension must be 
immediately repc.rted to the Commandery and action taken on the same within 
twenty-one days, by which after due investigation and by a two-thirds vote such sus- 
pension may be confirmed; or annulled, and the officer restored to his position. 

They may appoint a Companion to such office pro tempore as shall be made 
vacant by death, resignation or neglect to serve, suspension or inability to perform 
the duties by reason of absence, sickness or other causes, or when the Commandery 
shall have failed to elect ; which appointee shall act until his successor is elected or 
the inability due to said cause shall cease. Provided, that the offices of Commander 
and Recorder shall not be filled by the Council when the Vice Commander or Regis- 
trar are competent to act. 

They shall receive nominations for officers and shall prepare tickets for voting at 
the annual meeting of the Commandery, and shall at the said meeting present a 
report of their proceedings for the past year. 

They shall meet at least quarterly, and oftener, should it be deemed necessary 
by the Commander. 

They may fill vacancies in the Council, and should any member other than an 



12 

officer be absent from three consecutive meetings of the same, his office may be 
declared vacant, and filled by appointment until the election of his successor. 
Five Companions shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 



ARTICLE VI. 



CONGRESS. 



The triennial congress of the order shall be held on the fifth day of October, in 
the City of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at which triennial congress 
the General officers for the ensuing term shall be elected. 

Special congresses may be called by the General Commander, when directed to 
do so bv the General Council. 

The following shall be members of such triennial or special congresses, and shall 
be entitled to vote therein : 

1. The General officers, the Past General Commanders, Past Vice-General 
Commanders, and the Past State Commanders. 

2. Three delegates or their alternates from each State Commandery. 

.^. Ex-officio, the Commander, Vice-Commander and Recorder of each State 
Commandery. 



ARTICLE VII. 



GENERAL COMMANDERY. 



The General Commandery shall have the power to authorize and constitute a 
Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States in any State or Territory in 
which no such Comm indery exists, when formally petitioned to do so by ten or more 
Compnnies of the Order residing in said State or Territory, and on receipt of the 
prescribed charter fe*". 

The fee to the General Commandery for chartering a State Commandery of the 
Order shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00). 



.13 

The Charter of a State Commandery shall be of the form following: 

NAVAL ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES. 

GENERAL COMMANDERY. 



23c it linOtoll that Companions 



having made application in proper form for the institution of a Commandery of the 
Order in the State of ami the same being 

approved, a Commandery is hereby authorized, instituted and established to be known as the 
Cojnmandcry of the Naval Order of the United States. 

In testimony whereof, the Seal of the Order is hereunto affixed, and the hand of the 
General Commander, at Boston, the day of in the year 

thousand hundred and , and of the Independence of the United States 

of America, the ^//^/ ^/ 

the Order, the 

fittest. General Commander. 

jyfo^ General Recorder. 



It shall issue all Diplomas of Membership and the Insignia of the Order. 

The General Council shall meet at least semi-annually, and oftener should it be 
deemed necessary by the General Commander. 

The permanent headquarters of the General Commandery of the Order shall be 
in the City of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America, at 
which place it shall assemble. 



ARTICLE VIII. 

STATE COMMANDER! ES. 

Each constituted State Commandery of the Order shall regulate its own affairs, 
and shall have the power to adopt by-laws for its own special government, /roe'zV/?^/ 
that the same do not in any way conflict with this Constitution, and shall pay 
annually to the Treasurer of the General Commandery a per capita tax of twenty-five 
cents upon each and every Companion in good standing, as reported upon the first 
day of January of each year. 

The stated meeting of the several State Conimanderies shall be held monthly, 
unless any Commandery by a two-thirds vote shall otherwise direct : provided, how- 



14 

ever, that every Commandery shall hold a meeting in the month of November of each 
year for the election of officers. 

Ten Companions of a Commandery shall constitute a quorum at any meeting at 
which business is to be transacted. 

The actual fares of the Commander, Vice-Commander, Recorder and the three 
delegates, or their alternates, to and from the place of meeting of a triennial or 
special congress of the Order shall be paid by the State Commandery which they 
represent. 



ARTICLE IX. 

ADMISSION OF COMPANIONS. 

Any person above the age of twenty-one years, of good moral character and repu- 
tation, desirous of becoming a Companion of the Order, shall make application in 
writing, setting forth claims of eligibility, and accompanied by proofs of the same, in 
which it must be satisfactorily shown that the service of the participant was other 
than shore duty, regularly performed in the United States Navy or on an armed 
vessel in the service of the United States, or sailing under letters of marque and 
reprisal in time of war. 

Said application, bearing the endorsement of two Companions, and accompanied 
by an admission fee of not less than five ($5.00) dollars, shall be submitted to the 
Cominittee on Membership, who shall present their report to the Council of the Com- 
mandery. Upon a favorable ballot by that body the applicant shall thereupon become 
a Companion of the Order. ' 

Enlisted men who have received the United States Naval Medal of Honor for 
bravery in face of the enemy may be enrolled exempt from fees and dues, by the 
Commanderies of the States in which they reside, and their names shall be placed 
at the head of the membership rolls. 



ARTICLE X. 

DIPLOMA OF MEMBERSHIP. 

Every Diploma of Membership shall be authenticated by the General Com 
mander and General Recorder, and by the Seal of the Order affixed thereto. 



15 



The Diploma shall be of the form following : 

NAVAL ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES. 

GENERAL COMMANDERY. 



25c it $tnotDn that was received as a Companion 

of the Class of the Naval Order of the United States, on the 

day of Anno Domini thousand hundred 

and , and is entitled to all the rights and privileges thereto 

belongifig. 

In testimony whereof the Seal of the Order is hereunto affixed, and the hand of the 
General Commander, at Boston, the day of in the year 

i thousand hundred and and of the 

Independence of the United States of America, the 
and of the Order, the 

attest. General Commander. 

j\j0_ General Recorder. 



ARTICLE XL 



IMPEACHMENT OF COMPANIONS. 



If the conduct or character of any Companion of the Order shall be impeached, 
the accusing Companion shall prefer his charges in writing to the Council of the 
Commandery, who shall notify the accused of the same, and if, after due investiga- 
tion the Council consider the charges to be sustained, whether the accused be present 
or not, he may, by a majority vote, be suspended, or on their recommendation, 
expelled by a vote of two-thirds of the Companions present at a meeting of the 
Commandery. 

The dismissal or dishonorable discharge from the Military or Naval service of 
the United States, or the conviction in a court of justice of any infamous offence of 
any Companion of the Order shall constitute ipso facto expulsion. 

A Companion who has been expelled shall not be reinstated unless it be clearly 
proved that the charges upon which he was convicted were false, in which case 
he shall comply with the requirements governing the admission of Companions. 



16 
ARTICLE XII. 

DEATH OF COMPANIONS. 

Upon notice of the death of any Companion, it shall be the duty of all Com- 
panions to attend the funeral ceremonies, and if agreeable to the family of the de- 
ceased, see that the coffin is draped with the Union Jack, and the pall supported by 
Companions of the Order, when practicable. 



ARTICLE XIII. 

INSIGNIA. 

The Insignia of the Order shall consist of a gold Cross patte'e, one and one 
quarter inches in diameter, arms of blue enamel edged with gold. 



CROSS. 

Obverse: In the center on a circle of red enamel five-sixteenths of an inch in 
diameter, an eagle, wings extended, resting on an anchor surrounded by thirteen stars 
of five points all of gold, representing in substance the insignia of the Navy of the 
United States; the whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth of an inch 
wide, displaying in letters of gold the motto of the Order, "Fidelitas et Patria." 

Reverse: The Cross as above described. In the center on a circle of red 
enamel five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter shall appear in gold the insignia of the 
United States Marine Corps, the whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth 
of an inch wide bearing in letters of gold the legend, "Naval Order of the United 
States." 

The Cross shall be worn on the left breast suspended by a ribbon of heavy ribbed 
white silk one and one-half inches wide, with a red center three- fourths of an inch 
wide, the whole an inch and a half in displayed length. 

Officers of State Commanderies shall wear the Cross suspended by ihe ribbon of 
the Order around the neck. 



Officers of the General Commandery shall wear on the left breast a Star of silver 
of two and one-quarter inches in diameter on which shall rest the obverse of the 



18 

Cross as above described, surmounted by a Naval crown of gold and enamel ; and a 
Cordon of heavy ribbed white silk ribbon four inches wide, with a red center two 
inches wide, worn from the left shoulder to the right hip, and finished with a bow- 
knot of the ribbon of the Order one and one-half inches wide, from which the Cross 
may be suspended. Past ofificers of the General Commandery shall wear the Star 
without the Cordon. 

When the Insignia is not worn, a rosette one-half of an inch in diameter of the 
prescribed ribbon and pattern may be worn by Companions in the upper button-hole 
of the left lapel of the coat. 

The Insignia shall never be worn as an article of jewelry, and upon the resigna- 
tion or expulsion of a Companion it shall thereupon be returned to the Commandery 
and the amount paid for such Insignia shall be refunded to the said Companion by 
the Treasurer. 

In case of the death of a Companion, the same shall be considered an heirloom. 
In no case shall a duplicate Diploma or Insignia be issued except on the recommend- 
ation of the Council of the Commandery of which the applicant for same is a Com- 
panion, based on his statement upon honor that the original was either lost or 
destroyed, /r^rvV/tv/ that a Companion receiving such duplicate shall pay the same 
price as for the original. - — ^\ 



ARTICLE XIV. 

SEAL. 

The Great Seal of the Order shall be one and seven-eighths inches in diameter, in 
the center a capstan on which is displayed the American eagle, wings extended, 
bearing on its breast the National shield ; at the right an anchor, and at the left can- 
non and shot; the whole encircled by a band one-fourth of an inch wide, thereon the 
legend, " Naval Order of the United States — General Commandery, 1891." 

Each State Commandery shall have a seal one and three-fourths inches in diam- 
eter, including the border, which shall bear the date of its charter, together with the 
legend, "• Naval Order of the United States Commandery." 



ARTICLE XV. 

AMENDMENTS. 

This Constitution may be amended, provided two-thirds of the Companions 
present at any triennial or special congress of the Order shall approve; and pro- 



19 

vided further, that notice of such motion to amend, specifying sucli proposed amend- 
ment in full, shall be given in writing to the General Commander and the Commander 
of each State Commandery at least thirty days before such motion is to be considered. 

ARTHUR W. CLARK, 
C. F. BACON PHILBROOK, 
W. LITHGOW WILLEY, 
JOHN C. SOLEY, 
CHARLES C. PHILBROOK, 

Committee. 

Boston, Mass., A.,, .j, ^S,j. JOHN C. SOLEY, 

Genera/ Commander. 

FRANK W. NICHOLS, 

General Recorder. 





01 1 460 805 1 • ¥;■' 



